Towards the Promotion of Positive Development among Youth in Challenging Contexts: A Mixed-Methods Study of Engagement in the ScoutReach Program
Champine, Robey.
2016
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Abstract: The experiences of male youth of color in urban and lower-income
communities (e.g., related to exposure to racism, antisocial behaviors, and conflicting
cultural norms in regard to masculine identity and behavior) may constrain their capacity
to develop positive self-judgments and hopeful future-oriented beliefs. However, these
youth may have access to external resources that buffer ... read morethem against potential contextual
risk factors. Youth development (YD) programs (e.g., Boy Scouts of America [BSA]) may
represent key ecological developmental assets in the individual-context developmental
systems of these youth that are linked to thriving and reduced likelihood of problematic
developmental trajectories. Engagement is an important dimension of participation in YD
programs that reflects the quality of young people's involvement, their degree of
investment, and how they make meaning of their experiences. However, more research is
needed that explores cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions of engagement in YD
programs that serve underrepresented male youth. Accordingly, this cross-sectional and
mixed-methods study, informed by relational developmental systems metatheory and the
Phenomenological Variant of Ecological Systems Theory, sought to enrich understanding of
the experiences of male youth of color in ScoutReach, an arm of BSA that aims to make
Scouting more accessible to culturally diverse youth from lower-resource communities. I
analyzed questionnaire data from 32 Scouts enrolled in two ScoutReach units in the greater
Boston area, interview data from 10 Scouts,10 parents/guardians, and five program leaders,
and short-answer questionnaire responses from 32 parents/guardians. These analyses
primarily explored different dimensions of youth engagement in the program and relations
among these dimensions and indicators of positive and potentially problematic youth
development. Quantitative results suggested that Scouts demonstrated different dimensions
of engagement in ScoutReach, and that these dimensions were related differentially to
indicators of positive and potentially problematic youth development. Qualitative results
revealed similarities and differences in stakeholder groups' views of ScoutReach and how
the program may be impacting youth development. These data also elucidated aspects of the
program context that were linked to youth engagement. For instance, whereas Scouts and
program leaders primarily described camping and other outdoor activities as strongly linked
to youth engagement and positive development, parents/guardians more strongly emphasized
Scouts' interpersonal relationships in the program. When analyzed together, these
quantitative and qualitative findings indicated nuanced relations among dimensions of
engagement and indicators of youth development and, as well, nuances in individuals'
perceptions of (and experiences in) ScoutReach and Scouts' communities. I discuss
limitations of the study and potential implications for future research and
practice.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University, 2016.
Submitted to the Dept. of Child Development.
Advisor: Richard Lerner.
Committee: Ellen Pinderhughes, Sara Johnson, and Michael Cunningham.
Keyword: Developmental psychology.read less - ID:
- 5x21tt17n
- Component ID:
- tufts:21191
- To Cite:
- TARC Citation Guide EndNote
